Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Hodgepodgeaphobia

That would be fear of not answering this week's questions.

Welcome to your weekly Wednesday happy! Answer the questions on your own blog, then hop back here to add your link to the party (hodgepodge posts only please!). Don't forget to say hi to the blogger who linked before you...or all the party goers if you've got some time today.

Here we go-

1. Under what circumstances do you do your best thinking?

Probably in the early morning when the day is new and the house is quiet. It's my favorite time of day and I use those hours to think, pray, journal, plan my day and sometimes my life. Oh, and it's also when I drink coffee. Coffee helps tremendously with the thinking.

2. Are you a risk taker? What's one big risk you've taken?

Not in an adrenaline junkie sort of way, but sure I've taken some risks. Getting married might be considered risky. I think 'for better or worse' implies some risk is involved. Having children, which for me has meant living with a heart forever open and vulnerable to big hurts and great joys. Then of course there's moving across the pond with teenagers. Except we were very sure God had opened that door, so is walking through it an actual risk? Or is it just doing what you're told and maybe quaking a little on the inside?

3. Some of the most common phobias according to the Institute for Mental Health are-spiders (arachnaphobia), snakes (ophidiophobia ), heights (acrophobia), fear of spaces from which escape is difficult (agoraphobia), fear of thunder and lightning (astrophobia), fear of dogs (cynophobia), injections (trypanophobia), social situations, flying (pteromerhanophobia), and fear of germs and dirt (mysophobia). True phobias affect only 10% of adults, but of those listed which would you rate as your greatest fear?

I'm surprised claustrophobia (fear of small spaces) isn't on there, because that would be my number one answer to a phobia question. Agoraphobics can be very fearful in large spaces too, so therein lies the difference. If I have to choose from the phobias listed I guess maybe snakes? For one thing I like saying the word ophidiophobia-ha! I don't mind looking at a snake in an aquarium, but I am not a fan of running across one anywhere else. Hubs likes snakes so any dealings with them are his department.

4. Are you settled or do you feel you need to move somewhere new?

We definitely feel the need to move somewhere. That's the plan anyway. People don't actually retire in the land of 'worst property taxes in the US of A' do they? Anyway, the south calls our name, and our plan is to get back there one day in the not too distant future.
5. What is something you find annoying when dining in a restaurant?

People who allow their little ones to run around the restaurant while you're trying to eat. Unless you're in a fast food restaurant, which I wouldn't be, so yeah...littles running around while you're trying to have a nice meal.

I'm slightly obsessed with a clear blue sky any time of year, but especially after a too- long, too-gray winter. Course an orangey orange sunset is pretty hard to resist too. My answer is the colors of the sky...the blues, the oranges, the pinks, and lilacs too.

7. If you were going to take a holiday all by yourself, where would you go?

Maybe Paris. Likely London. Probably both.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

One thing I especially love about Charleston are all the beautiful big old trees, especially the magnolias. In case that sentence feels more random than normal (even for me), I was in Charleston last weekend (and wrote about it here).

There was another plant blooming and growing along many of the fences, something called Confederate Jasmine, and it was gorgeous. The hedges were so full of tiny little blooms my camera struggled to focus-

Or maybe it was the photographer, but whatever...the jasmine had a soft sweet scent that was so delicate and lovely.

I bet it doesn't grow in The Garden State where it's almost the end of May and we still have our heat on. Ridunkulous! I've been singing this song all week, and I think it fits here today. If you love the south, live in the south, or long to be south, these lyrics make you feel all warm and cozy.

33 comments:

I've lived in the south all my life and I simply couldn't see myself living anywhere else. I've lived in AR., TN., NC., AL., and now GA. Loved them all! I could live in Charleston, but I think the humidity there is worse than ATL, if that's even possible. I am 100% with you on #5...drives me bonkers!

I know exactly what you mean - if you had told me 14 years ago when we first moved to the south, where we stayed for the next 10 years, that I would ever miss the south - I would have laughed! I'm a west coast girl after all. But now, I do get nostalgic and miss many things about the south - the slower pace of life, people are more real and down to earth, and yes, the magnolias, dogwoods, jasmine, and lilacs are amazing. (Didn't like being so far away from our family, though. And the heat/humidity/mosquitos in the summer.) Thanks for the trip down memory lane this morning, though!

Joyce, I never knew you liked the south so much! I've never been out of the south, so I have nothing to compare to. I do love sitting under the shade of our large magnolia tree, smelling the sweet fragrances drifting through the air, and I love your song choice today :)

My hubs is a TN boy and I went to college there, got married there and lived there before moving to Richmond which I also loved. We have friends and family all across the south and plan to retire there somewhere someday : )

Hm. I'd say then that my second best thinking time is at night, because I'm with you on the early morning and coffee. Definitely helps! What fun to have a trip to Charleston. I would love to visit there some day, preferably when things are flowering, but before it turns beastly hot. Thanks for the Hodgepodge again today, Joyce!

I think you & I must be made from the same mold… we answer so many questions alike. I think your "last" move should be down here. I left that land of high taxes, septic systems, and cold & snow - and have never been happier. Come on down!

We are having more and more discussions lately about where we would like to retire - I keep bringing up Charlston even though I haven't been there. I think if I could get my husband on a weekend trip I could convince him there are alternatives to Florida :-)

Oh, I'm thrilled that you will be coming South one of these days. I was born in Virginia but Hubby brought me to La. 42 years ago and I became a deep Southern Gal at that time and love everything about it. Well, maybe not the humidity. :o)) Happy mid week to you!

I can honestly say..I was raised in FL, lived in Alabama for 20 yrs, raised a husband and son there (lol)--and now we live up north..and I really do not miss it. More kudos to you for wanting to move south. Maybe we just haven't found the right "south". Blessings

I enjoyed reading your answers today. Some very interesting questions. The many colors of the sky are my favorites too. It can so beautiful and ever changing. I like the title of your blog today.... Hodgepodgeaphobia. Clever. :)

haha hodgepodgephobia :) I agree parents shouldn't allow their kids to run and scream in restaurants. Especially nice quiet restaurants. Orange is beautiful too, like an Hawaiian sunset orange. Have a great week. Thanks for your kind words about my cat. :)

We feel the same way.....living on top of a small mountain with a view we pay $12,000. a year for taxes and that is not the place to live when we retire. We also need to get out of California! The South may be calling us too. Well can we be alone together on that trip to Paris and London????

thanks for the link on the taxes. definitely worth checking out.I like the questions this week. Honestly, often I just can't relate to your list which is fine. This week the questions don't seem to be very gender specific (I guess I could say chic-stuff?). I'll give it a shot.

Well now, here I thought Oregon was the worst for property taxes. Hmm. I agree, littles running around would be annoying too. I just forgot because I think with so many in the family right now, I'm getting used to them again. Ha.

That Confederate Jasmine looks absolutely lovely! I like the word for the fear of flying- although I'm not quite sure how to pronounce it. The word looks like a dinosaur name. :-) Have a fabulous Memorial Day weekend!

I know! I thought about claustrophobia too! Would top my list of fears. I love blue skies too! My favorite thing about living in NC. What gorgeous pictures of Charleston. I love that city. We visit when we can. Blessings and Sunshine, Valerie

One of the things I miss most about Charleston is the Jasmine in May. It's one of the most heavenly scents I know. My grandmother told me that this kind of Jasmine will grow in New Jersey, but it may not bloom until August. Check your local garden center whether they have something called Star Jasmine, which should be the same thing.

Taxes up north seem to be higher than the south. I suspect that's why we get so many new residence in our neck of the woods. I would just love to find my dream home at the right price. I just wish we had planned better at the beginning. We out grew our home way too fast! Thanks for hosting the fun!